Oral Histories

Interview of Eudorah M. Moore

Curator of design at the Pasadena Art Museum. Founder of the museum’s Art Alliance and director of the museum’s California Design exhibitions.
Subtitle:
Pasadena Art Museum: Eudorah M. Moore
Series:
Oral History of the Pasadena Art Museum
Topic:
Art
Biographical Note:
Curator of design at the Pasadena Art Museum. Founder of the museum’s Art Alliance and director of the museum’s California Design exhibitions.
Interviewer:
Ratner, Joanne L.
Interviewee:
Moore, Eudorah M.
Supporting Documents:
Records relating to the interview are located in the office of the UCLA Library's Center for Oral History Research.
Interviewer Background and Preparation:
The interview was conducted by Joanne L. Ratner, UCLA Oral History Program; B.A., American Studies/Art History, Scripps College; M.A., Art History/Museum Studies, University of Southern California.
Language:
English
Copyright:
Regents of the University of California, UCLA Library.
Series Statement:
This series focuses on the history of the Pasadena Museum of Art and its role as a pathbreaking venue for contemporary art in Southern California in the 1960s.
Abstract:
Moore's early life; founding of the Art Alliance of the Pasadena Art Museum; the Pasadena Art Museum decides to focus on contemporary art; the Carmelita Coordinating Committee becomes the Pasadena Arts Council; lack of community interest in modern art; Robert A. Rowan; Arthur Hanisch; Harold Jurgensen; origins of the California Design program; crafts as a legitimate art form; continued resistance to design show; California Design exhibition catalog; Islands in the Land exhibit; California Design incorporated as a separate entity; California Design 1910 at Pasadena's exhibition center; California Design 1976 at Pacific Design Center; Norton Simon acquires museum; the Fiber as Medium symposium; Moore's election as president of the museum board of trustees; the museum's acquisition of the Galka Scheyer Blue Four Collection; construction of the new museum building; deaccessioning of permanent collection; construction of new building begins without endowment in place; Moore resigns; Martha B. Padve and the Fellows of Contemporary Art; the board of trustees; Rowan's active support of the museum; Virginia Steele Scott and the proposed Asian art wing; fund-raising; exhibitions curated by Walter Hopps; Thomas G. Terbell; William C. Agee; John Coplans; Barbara Haskell's tenure as the last curator; John Palmer Leeper; Harold Jurgensen's effectiveness as president of the board and as a fund-raiser; Alfred Esberg's tenure as president; Gifford Phillips; the museum's contribution to Pasadena and Southern California; Moore works as head of the crafts section of the Visual Arts program at the National Endowment for the Arts.